Ben Mollin Producer
email: ben@rule-42.com
www.myspace.com/benmollin
www.imdb.com

In the 2007 debut of "Shear Genius," Bravo - TV's reality competition for hairdressers, one of the genuine surprises was Ben Mollin. The tattooed, music-loving stylist was eccentric and humble. But he also exhibited an eagerness to learn and a passion for his craft, so much that Sally Hershberger and Vidal Sassoon commended him for his raw talent and his growth over the course of the competition. And grow he did, right into the number two spot - taking second place and outdistancing the thousands of other stylists who auditioned.

For Mollin, "Shear Genius" was a turning point in a career that began in 1993 and included owning and operating several different salons in the Chicagoland area. At the same time Mollin pursued his passion for music while playing in several bands, and even combined hair, records and vintage clothing in some of his businesses. By 2005, however, he was at a professional crossroad. "At that point," he remembers, "I was working out of my living room and I was packing to go to Las Vegas to audition for "Blue Man Group." But his future in cobalt body paint was halted when Bravo called and invited him to be on "Shear Genius."

Now Mollin is back in his new home state of Indiana, running a boutique salon called "Bang Bang Beauty and Boutique" and producing for Rule 42 Productions. Thanks to his hard work after the show, he is recognized all over the world. He hosts and judges The Supreme Salon Tour "Hairwars." He's in demand for personal appearances, video projects and more. Mollin was featured in "50 Hairstylists," a book featuring the fifty most influential hairdressers in the country. But one of the best things to come out of the "Shear Genius" experience, he says, has been the opportunity to connect to beauty school students and young stylists. He believes that he is the type of person to whom people can relate, and he can offer education, support and encouragement. "I've been up and I've been down," he says. "When people meet me, they can relate to me."